Trainers Harry Derham and Lucy Wadham could target their Grade 2 winners at Kempton towards the Cheltenham Festival.
Both sent out commanding winners at the Surrey track on Saturday. Klub De Reve claimed the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, while Jax Junior won the Pendil Novices’ Chase.
On Klub De Reve, this was a second straight win at Kempton having scored on Boxing Day. The six-year-old was beaten on his first two hurdles starts, but has demonstrated significant improvement of late.
The point-to-point winner won by three lengths under a penalty. Derham conceded that the improvement his charge has shown ensures the Cheltenham Festival has to enter his team’s thinking.
“I’ll definitely consider Cheltenham – there’s no harm having two bullets to fire,” he said to the Racing Post. He was referring to Mossy Fen Road as the other bullet, with both of his charges likely to head towards the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle should they run at Cheltenham.
However, there are other big spring meetings in the reckoning too.
“I suspect Aintree might be the right place for him. He finished two lengths behind Talk The Talk at Newbury and that’s as good bumper form as there is, so we’ve always held him in high regard.”
For now, the team are simply celebrating a plan coming good.
“It was quite a thrill because after Boxing Day we said let’s get him as good as we can for the Dovecote and it’s just so nice when a plan comes off because so often in this game they don’t. He’s a progressive horse and that was a really good performance.”
Arkle tile in the offing for Jax Junior
There were only four runners in the Pendil Novices’ Chase. Jax Junior was a class apart for Wadham and Tom Cannon.
His slick-jumping performance put his rivals to the sword. Connections can now get excited for the Cheltenham Festival.
He’s a fantastic jumper – it’s his weapon really and he’s got a massive turn of foot as well,” Wadham said. “Tom said he was waiting and waiting and then couldn’t wait any longer. We wanted to win a Grade 2 before we went for a Grade 1. I think the owners would like to go to Cheltenham and if he’s right I think we’ll have a crack at the Arkle.”
Jax Junior is now a different horse after wind surgery. Wadham is quietly confident that the Arkle, in which he will face a strong field, will suit well.
“A fast-run two miles would be fine and he ran against seasoned handicappers last time over that trip. Even in his bumper days he was quite noisy in his wind but getting that sorted has been the key to him, and he hasn’t exerted himself too much today.”